Are You Using Vitamin C Serum Wrong? Common Mistakes to Avoid

Vitamin C serum is the season's most popular component, but this potent antioxidant has many other uses as well. The skin benefits greatly from this super element when used properly, yet it can cause irritation or harm if not handled with care.  

What is vitamin C?

Ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, is an essential water-soluble acid needed for enzyme synthesis, neurotransmitter function, immune system support, and tissue healing. Vitamin C serum, in its various forms, has several beneficial effects on skin health. These include stimulating collagen formation, lightening hyperpigmentation, and protecting the skin from free radical damage.  

How does vitamin C help your skin?

If it is used properly:

• Reduces the appearance of fine lines and pimples.

• It's an effective sunblock that prevents skin damage.

• Helps to calm redness

• Possible aid in wound recovery

• Improves skin texture and tone, and shields from environmental aggressors such as free radicals and pollution.

Common vitamin C serum mistakes

1. Combining it with retinol or niacinamide

So, retinol is synthesized from vitamin A, while niacinamide is a type of vitamin B3. Vitamin C serum and these substances don't get along because of their different pH values. Therefore, they nullify each other, rendering both useless. It's not good when the reaction causes redness, after all. If you want to prevent any adverse reactions from occurring, you should wait 30 minutes in between applying the various active substances. 

2. Avoiding Morning Vitamin C Application: 

Most people avoid using vitamin C in the morning out of concern that it would cause their skin to break out. Unless otherwise directed, vitamin C serum is best applied in the morning before using sunscreen, although many people are unsure about when to apply it. Vitamin C serum should be applied first, allowed to fully seep into the skin, and only then should sunscreen be applied.

3. Keeping it active after its due date has passed

Rowland-Warmann advises using an opened Vitamin C serum as soon as possible. As an "unstable" molecule, vitamin C degrades with time. This process is accelerated by being exposed to air, heat, and light.

Therefore, Rowland-Warmann claims that the typical shelf life of an opened product is roughly three months, however, this might vary widely depending on the product's formulation and contents. "You need to change out your product before the color goes amber or yellow," she says. That's how you know the vitamin has oxidized and is no longer useful. (That's great news!)

4. Skipping Sunscreen

The active components in many serums might make the skin more sensitive to the sun, increasing the risk of sun damage. Sunscreen should be used constantly, even if one does not intend to spend a great deal of time outdoors. The best way to prevent sun damage to your skin is to use broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.

5. Use an incorrect quantity

Concentrated active components are what make serums so effective. Therefore, a little goes a long way toward covering your entire face. A pea-sized amount is all that's needed for your face, and you'll need two if you want to put some on your neck as well. Three to four drops of the liquid serum should be used. Too much product is often used, which is not only wasteful but can also cause your pores to become clogged.

Always refer to the product's instructions for the recommended serving size. Put off your exfoliating routine. The skincare routine is incomplete without exfoliation. By removing the built-up layer of dead skin cells, your skin will feel rejuvenated and look radiant. Dead skin cells build up a barrier that prevents serum from penetrating the skin. Vitamin C serum is more effective when applied on exfoliated skin.

6. Not a Test of Patches

Not patch-testing before using a new serum on your skin is one of the worst things you can do. A patch test can help you determine whether or not a new product will have a bad reaction on your skin. To determine whether or not a serum may cause skin irritation, a small amount can be applied to a patch of skin on the arm or neck and left there for 24 hours. It should be fine to apply on your face if there are no reactions.

7. Vitamin C Serum Interaction Danger Zones

When first beginning a skincare routine, it can be tempting to use everything at once in an effort to see results immediately. But you know that never happens. Unfortunately, many people throw away perfectly good vitamin C serums because they combine it with other skincare products or treatments that might nullify or even reverse the serum's advantages. You should never combine the vitamin C serum with any of the following five substances. Retinol, beta hydroxy acids, alpha hydroxy acids, niacinamide, and benzoyl peroxide are some of the most common. You should research complementary items to see if they complement the vitamin C serum you've chosen.

How Should You Use Vitamin C Serum to Avoid Harm?  

We're big fans of the vitamin C derivative ascorbly tetraisopalmitate. This derivative of ascorbic and is palmitic acid is stable, pH-neutral, and oil-soluble. It's skin-friendly and easy to use, so you can incorporate it whenever you like.

Ascorbly tetra-iso-palmitate (ATP) penetrates three times further than ascorbic acid and still yields superior outcomes at concentrations just one-quarter as high. More importantly, it significantly inhibits melanogenesis by 80 percent, therefore it also has considerable skin-lightening advantages.

How should vitamin C serum be used?

Because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, Vitamin C serum is best applied to the skin in the morning rather than at night. It is recommended to apply skincare products in the order of "thinnest" to "thickest" in terms of uniformity.

Conclusion

When used properly, Le Pur Organics vitamin C serum is a fantastic supplement to any skincare routine. If you follow the advice in this article, you should be able to maximize the advantages to your skin.

Concentration, patch testing, sunscreen, pH, dosage, timing, and correct storage are all important considerations. You can maximize the benefits of this potent skincare product by following these instructions.

Do you think you might be misusing vitamin C serum? If you want to get the most out of your vitamin C serum, you should reevaluate your skincare routine now that you know the frequent mistakes to avoid. Your skin will appreciate it much.